Edge straightening tool



Aug. .18, 1964 J, H, LANDQN 3,144,896

- 4 EDGE STRAIGHTENING TOOL Filed- May 29, 1962 55 JAMES H. LAM/00HINVENTOR.

E (fir/Mum ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,144,896 EDGE STRAIGHTENINGTGO'L James H. Landon, 1316 Raymond Ave., Glendale, Calif. Filed May 29,1962, Ser. No. 198,508 4 Claims. (Cl. 15332) This invention relates to atool for straightening deformed edges of a plate and is especially wellsuited for straightening the teeth of matrixes used in a linotypemachine.

As is well known by those familiar with linotype machines, such machinesemploy matrixes in the form of brass plates each of which has anintaglio of a letter to be produced in relief on a slug to be cast bythe machine. The machine assembles the matrixes in a line and carriesthem to a mold where the line-of-type, or slug, is cast. The matrixesare then carried by an elevator to a distributor or sorter bar alongwhich they are moved until directly over their respective channels in amagazine into which they drop from the bar for selection and assemblyinto another line of type. The distributor bar has longitudinal ribs towhich the matrixes cling by their teeth, the ribs having breaks ordiscontinuances and each of the matrixes having a selected number of itsteeth shortened, such that the permutations of discontinuances and shortteeth provide for sorting the matrixes into groups of a common lettereach. If a matrix has been damaged as by its teeth being nicked or bent,it will not slide smoothly, if at all, along the distributor bar and itmay not drop off from the bar at its proper channel in the magazine. Iwould judge that of the number of matrixes ordinarily discarded becauseof damage in one form or another, about onethird are faulty because theteeth are bent.

7 It is an object of this invention to provide a tool by which matrixeshaving bent teeth may be easily and quickly straightened for use.

Another object is to provide a tool of the abovementioned characterwhich is simple and rugged in construction, easy to manipulate, reliablein service, and economical to manufacture.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear in thecourse of the following part of this specification wherein the detailsof construction and mode of operation of a preferred embodiment of atool of this invention are described with reference to the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the tool in perspective showing the dieand broach parts of the tool in separated relationship and a matrixbetween the separated parts;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the tool die as it appears in FIG.1, and showing a matrix in position to be straightened;

FIG. 3 is a central vertical section through the tool; and,

FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic representations of the broach part andcomplementary recess of the matrix, the broach part being shown incross-section taken upon planes indicated by lines 44 and 55,respectively, on FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawing in greater detail and with the use of referencenumerals, a conventional matrix for a linotype machine is shown anddesignated generally by reference numeral 10. It is a brass plate havingin a front edge 11 thereof an engraved impression 12 of a letter inintaglio for forming a corresponding letter in relief on a slug to becast as a line-of-type from an assemblage or row of matrixes. The matrixhas opposite side faces 13, four end extensions 14 defining insideshoulders 15, and end edge 16, and a recess 17 extending inwardly fromand being open at the end edge 16. Recess 17 is of generally V-shape andis defined by a plurality of teeth some of which are designated by nu-3,144,896 Ce Patented Aug. 18, 1964 plate. The riser surface of the fiveregular teeth 18 on each side of the recess are undercut and the risersurfaces of the two shortened teeth 1? on each side of the recess extendat right angles to their respective tread surfaces.

As is Well known by those familiar with linotype machines, the matrixesare designed to slide along a distributor bar of the machine, the barhaving a plurality of longitudinal extending ribs into which the teethof the matrixes fit. The ribs of the distributor bar are interrupted ordiscontinued at selected places such that, as a consequence of thepermutations of rib discontinuances and combinations of regular teeth 18and shortened teeth 19, the matrixes are sorted into groups of commonletters each, by dropping from the distributor bar into respectivechannels of the magazine of the machine.

The matrixes become damaged in various Ways, damage to the teethoccurring from being bent slightly transversely of the plane of thematrix plate or from being bent in a way such that the pointed ends ofthe teeth extend in directions slightly inwardly or outwardly of therecess 17. When the teeth are bent in any of these fashions the matrixesWill not slide smoothly, if at all, on the distributor bar of thelinotype machine and they will drop off from the distributor bar priorto reaching their assigned magazine channels and sometimes will pass bytheir drop-off places. Unless the damaged matrixes are straightened,they must be discarded.

The tools of this invention are designed to straighten bent or distortedteeth of linotype matrixes. The illustrated embodiment of this inventioncomprises a body or die 24 and a broaching implement 25. The die 24 hasa fiat surface 28 upon which the matrix 10 is seated for performing ateeth-straightening operation. For simplicity in forming the die, it maybe constructed as complernentary half portions indicated by the medialline of separation at 29 in FIG. 1. The two half portions of the die aresecured together as by a plurality of bolts 30. There are two standards32 and 33 extending out from the fiat surface 28, these presentingparallel inside faces 34 for snugly receiving the matrix between themwith the inside shoulders 15 of the matrix fitting snugly againstrespective end faces 35 of the standards whereby the standards .hold thematrix against movement when seated upon the flat surface 28. Forconvenience in construction, the standards may be formed as plates whichare secured by certain of the fasteners 30 in side recesses 36. A groove38 in the Hat surface 28 permits an operator to insert a tool, e.g. ascrew driver, under the matrix to lift the matrix out from between thestandards 32 and 33 upon completion of a straightening operation.Shoulders 4t) and 41 on the die complement the holding function of thestandards, these shoulders being engageable by the end edge 16 of thematrix.

The die 24 has an opening 43 extending therethrough for slidablyreceiving the broaching implement 25. Such opening 43 is cylindrical andof a cross-section correspond ing to that of the broaching implement tosnugly accommodate sliding of the broaching implement into and out fromthe die.

Referring now to the details of construction of the illustratedbroaching implement 25, it comprises a cylindrical rod 46, here ofrectangular cross-section, and an integral broaching portion 47 formedpreferably of tool steel. The broaching portion 47 is of generallytriangular cross-section conforming to the shape of the recess 17 of thematrix. An end face 49 at the forward or entering end of the broachingportion extends at an acute angle from an inside surface 50 of theentering end portion of the rod 46, such that the vertex 51 of thebroach enters the apex of the V-recess of the matrix to guide the broachinto accurate alignment with the recess. The opposite or trailing endface of the broach is designated by reference numeral 53. The broach 47has a plurality of longitudinal ribs 55 extending on its two exposedsides from end to end thereof. These ribs are of a number and size tomate tightly against respective teeth of a matrix having all regular(undercut) teeth 18, a matrix of that species being known as a pi-mat.It is appropriate to note further than the ribs 55 on the broach 47 aresimilar to but slightly larger in cross-section than those on thedistributor of the linotype machine.

Referring to FIGURES 4 and 5 of the drawing it will be noted that thebroach 47 is slightly narrower at its entering end 49 (FIGURE 5) than atthe trailing end 53 (FIGURE 4). More particularly, the broach tapersslightly at its exposed sides such that the riser surfaces of the ribsfit relatively loose with respect to their corresponding riser surfaces22 of the matrix teeth at the entering end of the broach (FIG. 5) andthey wedge tightly against the riser surfaces 22 of the matrix teeth inthe trailing end portion of the broach (FIG. 4). Also the altitude 57 ofthe triangular broach is slightly shorter at the entering end of thebroach than at its trailing end, whereby the tread surfaces of the ribs55 fit relatively loose with respect to their corresponding treadsurfaces 21 of the matrix teeth at the entering end of the broach andthey wedge tightly against the teeth tread surfaces at the trailing endof the broach. Thus the entering end of the broach slides easily intothe recess of the matrix and tightly at its trailing end. The inwardlyextended position of the broaching implement is indicated by the brokenline representation 59 in FIG. 3.

Projections 61 on opposite sides of the broaching implement 25 at itstrailing end constitute stop elements for engagement with a top surface63 of the die 24 to prevent the broaching implement from dropping orbeing passed through the die in which case it might become damaged. Theprojections 61 are spaced from the trailing end face 53 of the broachingportion 47 by a distance greater than that between the stop-engagementsurface 63 and the surface 28 upon which a matrix is seated, wherebywhen the broaching implement is passed or driven into the die to aposition of its projections 61 engaging the stop surface 63, thebroaching portion 47 will have cleared the matrix and the matrix maythen be easily lifted out from the die.

Assuming that the point of a matrix tooth 18 is bent transversely of theplane of the matrix plate, the planes of its riser and tread surfaceswill be slightly twisted. By passing the broach through the matrixrecess in one straightening operation and then reversing the matrix inthe die and passing the broach through its recess again, the ribs on thebroach in wedging and rubbing against the riser and tread surfaces ofmatrix will flatten these surfaces and straighten the tooth. Suchflattening of tooth surfaces will also be effected in the case of thepoint of a tooth being bent inwardly or outwardly of the recess.Furthermore, any burrs on the matrix teeth will be burnished off as thebroach is passed through the matrix recess. The riser surfaces of theshortened teeth 19 of the matrix will not be contacted by the ribs ofthe broach, but these riser surfaces are not as susceptible to beingdamaged as are the surfaces of the teeth 18 inasmuch as the risersurfaces of teeth 19 extend at right angles from their respective treadsurfaces and they are adequately recessed to prevent engagement with theribs of the distributor bar.

While the invention has herein been shown and described in what isconceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of theinvention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed hereinbut is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace anyand all equivalent devices.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new in support ofLetters Patent is:

1. A broaching tool for straightening the edge surface of a flat platein which said edge surface is originally straight and normal to theplane of the plate, the tool comprising a die and a broaching implement,the die having a fiat surface for seating the plate in the die, meansfor engaging the plate to hold it on said flat surface against turningin the plane of said fiat surface, a cylindrical opening in the dieextending normal to said fiat surface, the broaching implement having acylindrical guide rod portion snugly slidable in said die opening, abroach on the implement spaced from said plate-holding means by adistance such that the broach will rub against said edge surface as theimplement is passed into the die opening, the broach tapering outwardlyfrom its entering end to its trailing end so as to wedge tightly againstsaid edge surface as the broach passes against the said edge surface.

2. A tool for straightening matrixes of the class in which the matrix isa metal plate having a plurality of teeth defining the sides of an openrecess in the matrix by which the matrix clings to and is slidably alonga distributor bar of a linotype machine, the tool comprising a die and abroaching implement, the die having a flat surface upon which the matrixmay be seated, means for engaging the matrix to hold the matrix againstmovement on said flat surface, and having a cylindrical openingextending normal to said fiat surface for slidably receiving saidimplement, the broaching implement having a cylindrical rod portionslidable axially in the die opening, a broach portion having an enteringend and a trailing end and being of a shape in cross-section tocorrespond and mate with the recess of the linotype matrix, the broachportion having a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs on itsoutside surfaces conforming in number to that of the matrix teeth, andthe broach portion increasing in cross-section from its entering end toits trailing end such that the entering end of the broach will looselyenter the recess of the matrix and the trailing end will fit tight inthe recess of the matrix to press the teeth of the matrix back into thegeneral plane of the matrix.

3. A tool according to claim 2 in which the plane of the entering endsurface of the broaching portion is inclined to extend at its vertexforwardly of its base.

4. A tool according to claim 2 in which said die has a stop surfacespaced above said flat surface, said rod portion having a stop proximateits trailing end for engagement with said stop surface of the die toprevent passage of the broaching implement entirely through said dieopening, and said stop on the broaching implement being spaced from thetrailing end of said broach portion by a distance greater than the spacebetween said stop surface and said flat surface, whereby the broachportion will pass entirely through said matrix before said stop engagessaid stop surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,195,277 Kleinman Mar. 26, 1940 2,376,842 Wright May 22, 1945 2,521,747Reinhard Sept. 12, 1950 2,530,066 Laase Nov. 14, 1950 2,585,832 PhaneufFeb. 12, 1952

1. A BROACHING TOOL FOR STRAIGHTENING THE EDGE SURFACE OF A FLAT PLATEIN WHICH SAID EDGE SURFACE IS ORIGINALLY STRAIGHT AND NORMAL TO THEPLANE OF THE PLATE, THE TOOL COMPRISING A DIE AND A BROACHING IMPLEMENT,THE DIE HAVING A FLAT SURFACE FOR SEATING THE PLATE IN THE DIE, MEANSFOR ENGAGING THE PLATE TO HOLD IT ON SAID FLAT SURFACE AGAINST TURNINGIN THE PLANE OF SAID FLAT SURFACE, A CYLINDRICAL OPENING IN THE DIEEXTENDING NORMAL TO SAID FLAT SURFACE, THE BROACHING IMPLEMENT HAVING ACYLINDRICAL